Ski pole



Jan. 24, 1939.

- O. F. C. RIEDE SKI POLE Original Filed Nov. 27, 1933 r no I'L'DE BY 9W ATTORNEYS Patented .Ian. 24, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SKI POLE Otto F. C. Riede, Yonkers, N. Y.

Application November 2'7, 1933, Serial No. 699,825 Renewed December '7, 1937 7 Claims.

This invention relates to ski poles and has for its object the provision of a device of this character possessing improved properties in its use, better balance, uniform flexibility and a substantially longer useful life. Other and further objects, residing in the details of construction, will be apparent from the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention including two advantageous modifications,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of disc and mode of attachment;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a further modification; and

Fig. 6 shows a detail view of the shaft, parts being broken away to show the interior construction.

It is necessary that ski poles be light in weight and possess some degree of spring or transverse resilience. These poles have commonly been made with bamboo shafts, with wood or metal rings secured in various ways adjacent one end. Poles of this construction while possessing some degree of spring do not possess this quality in the desired degree nor can they be bent uniformly, the knuckles or rings at the natural joints of the bamboo presenting points of stiffness which breakage occurs.

Ordinary steel tubing such as is commonly used for golf club shafts is not satisfactory because to great the necessary strength the weight is increased to an undesirable degree and the resilience is decreased.

One feature of the present invention resides in giving a cross-sectional form to a metal tube which I have found to provide the necessary strength without using an undue weight of material and which at the same time gives a controlled and uniform resilience to the shaft.

Referring to the drawing, I designates the shaft which is formed of steel tubing provided, except at the end portions, with longitudinal arcuate ribs as indicated at 2. The radius of the ribs is preferably such as to provide six ribs for a shaft having a maximum diameter of the order of of an inch. This cross-sectional shape of the body portion of the shaft is important since 55 I have found that it gives a substantially ideal degree of resilience to the pole, while increasing the strength sufiiciently to permit the use of a minimum weight of material, metal having a gauge of the order of .015 of an inch proving satisfactory. At the lower end of the shaft,

which is left round in cross-section, a metal point 3 is inserted and held in any suitable manner permitting its removal. As shown, point 3 is provided with a reduced portion 4 adapted to make a tight fit within the lower cylindrical portion 5 of the tube. The sharp point 3 and the smooth cylindrical surface of the adjacent portion of the shaft permits the pole to turn easily in ice or snow and avoids torsional strain.

On the lower cylindrical portion adjacent the lower end of the ribs 2, a collar 6 is tightly but removably fitted on the shaft, said collar being provided with an outwardly extending flange 1. Flange i is provided with four equally spaced apertures or slots 8. concentrically surrounding the flange 7 is an annular disc 9 formed of metal, preferably Duralumin, having a thickness of about .035 of an inch. Disc 9 is provided with a flanged edge ii) and intermediate annular corrugations H to give added stiffness to the disc. Openings [2 are formed at intervals around the disc to decrease its weight and facilitate its passage through light snow. Adjacent the inner edge of the disc slots I l are provided similar to, and positioned opposite, slots 8, and disc 9 is flexibly secured to flange 'l by means of raw hide strips l5 looped through slots 8 and I4, their ends being overlapped and riveted to the opposite side of the loop as at IS.

The upper end of shaft l is preferably provided with a wooden handle or grip l8 having a reduced portion l9 driven tightly into the cylindrical upper end 5' of the shaft. A raw hide hand or wrist loop 20 is secured at the upper end of the grip la in any suitable manner as by a rivet 2| securing the ends of the loop to a raw hide band 22 fitting in a groove 23 formed at the upper end of the handle.

Greater freedom of movement of the disc 9 may be provided by resiliently as well as flexibly securing the disc to flange 1. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 4 where disc 9 is shown provided at its inner periphery with radially extending openings 25, at the outer ends of which holes 26 are provided to receive one end of springs 21,

the other end of which is secured in holes 28.

formed in flange I. The length of the springs 21 is made such that they are normally under sufficient tension to hold the disc at right angles to the shaft while permitting a substantial range of universal movement.

An advantage in case of carrying or packing the poles is obtained by dividing the discinto two halves as indicated at 29 and 30 in Fig. 5. Each half is provided with an opening 3|, similar to openings of the construction shown in Fig. 4, and springs 32 are lightly strained between holes 33 in the disc halves and holes 34 in flange I as in that construction. The outer end portions of the mating edges of halves 29 and are provided with apertured lugs 35 and 36, respectively, through which pins 31 pass forming a butt hinge. Pins 31 are provided on their outer ends with heads 38 and on their inner ends with holes 39 in which one end of springs 40 are engaged, the other ends of said springs engaging in holes 4| formed in flange T. The mating edges of the disc halves are cut away as at 42 to provide clearance for the springs 40 which are slightly tensioned. In order to normally hold the disc halves in ex tended position and rigidly connected together, aligned slots or keyways 50 and 5| are cut in the lugs 35 and res actively in which projections or keys carried by the pins slide. Springs 40 normally hold the projections 52 at the inner end of slots Si in which position they also extend part way into slots as, looking the disc halves against relative movement and in operative position. Slots 50 are made of sufficient length to permit the keys 52 to be drawn outwardly into slot 50 clear of slot 55, against the action of springs 40, to thereby release the disc halves for pivotal movement about their hinges and permitting the halves to be folded against the shaft. The pins 31 are preferably provided with wings to facilitate their manipulation. When springs are usedas the means for connecting the disc to the flanged collar the springs are galvanized or otherwise protected against corrosion.

Whichever form of disc is used the appearance of the pole may be enhanced by coloring the shaft and disc in contrasting colors and by coloring the corrugations H in contrast to the remaining surface of the disc or the shaft or both. Various college or university colors may advantageously be used for the decoration of the poles.

The shaft formed as above described is capable of sustaining a bending load, centrally applied of approximately 400 pounds which is sufficient for all ordinary purposes and substantially in excess of ordinary bamboo poles. In some cases it is desirable to increase the bending strength to provide for unusual conditions or emergency uses of the pole, and I accomplish this, as shown in Fig. 6, by inserting within the hollow shaft two short wooden blocks or fillers positioned equidistant from each other and the ends of the ribs. In Fig. 6 the lower block (it is shown in section. The blocks are preferably about 1 inches long and are ribbed to fit snugly in the shaft, being held in position by any suitable cement. This construction does not add materially to the weight of the poles nor substantially lessen their resilience, and approximately doubles the sustainable bending load. The reenforcing effect may be varied by varying the number or position of the blocks.

In actual use ski poles made according to this invention have proved far superior to poles of the prior art both in operation and durability. Furthermore, parts of the poles, such as the point, handle, disc or shaft, may be replaced in the event of accidental damage, affording economies in their use.

I claim:

1. A ski pole comprising a hollow steel shaft having a wall thickness of approximately .015 of an inch, the end portions being cylindrical in cross-section and the intermediate body portion being provided with longitudinally extending, closely adjacent, arcuate ribs, said ribs having a cross-sectional radius such as to provide six ribs in a shaft having a maximum diameter of approximately of an inch, a metal point removably held in the lower cylindrical end of the shaft, a wooden hand grip removably held in the upper cylindrical end of the shaft, a flanged collar removably secured to the lower cylindrical portion of the shaft adjacent the lower ends of said ribs, a thin metal annular disc surrounding the collar and having a flanged outer edge, and flexible means connecting the inner edge of the disc to the flanged collar, the disc being provided, intermediate its inner and outer edges, with at least one corrugation concentric with the shaft and a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings.

2. In a ski pole, a shaft formed of a continuous length of light steel tubing provided intermediate its ends with longitudinal ribs outwardly curved in cross-section and closely spaced circumferentially about the shaft, short wooden fillers secured within the ribbed portion of the shaft and positioned equi-distant from each other and the ends of the ribs, and an annular member flexibly connected to the shaft adjacent its lower end, in normally concentric relation thereto.

3. In a ski pole, a continuous hollow steel shaft having a wall thickness of approximately .015 of an inch, the end portions being cylindrical in cross section, the intermediate body portion being provided with longitudinally extending, closely adjacent arcuate ribs, said ribs having a cross sectional radius such as to provide six ribs in a shaft having a maximum diameter of approximately of an inch, and wood reenforcing means positioned within the shaft intermediate the cylindrical ends.

4. In a ski pole, a shaft formed of a continuous length of light steel tubing, the end portions of which are round in cross section, the portion intermediate said end portions being formed with longitudinal ribs outwardly curved in cross section and closely spaced circumferentially about the shaft, and a short length of light reenforcing material positioned interiorly of the ribbed portion of the shaft forming a. local reenforcement against bending.

5. In a ski pole, a shaft formed of a continuous length of light steel tubing, the end portions of which are round in cross section, the portion intermediate said end portions being formed with longitudinal ribs outwardly curved in cross section and closely spaced circumferentially about the shaft, and a short length of wood positioned interiorly of the ribbed portion of the shaft forming a local reenforcement against bending.

6. In a ski pole, a shaft formed of a continuous length of light steel tubing, at least the major portion intermediate the ends being formed with longitudinal ribs stopping short of the end of the tubing and a length of light reenforcing material positioned interiorly of the ribbed portion of the tubing to form a reenforcement against bending.

7. In a ski pole, a shaft formed of a continuous length of light steel tubing, at least the major portion intermediate the ends being formed with longitudinal ribs curved in cross section and stopping of the end of the tubing, and a length of light reenforcing material positioned interiorly of the ribbed portion of the tubing to form a reenforcement against bending.

OTTO F. C. RIEDE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,1LLLL,688. January, 2h, 1959.

OTTO F. C. RIEDE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 67, claim 7, after the word "stopping" insert short; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office,

Signed and sealed this 21st day of February, A. Do 1959.,

Henry Van Arsdale.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patentsa 

